Liverpool thought they'd done well enough against the Barcelona talisman in Camp Nou last week, only for the Argentine to burst into life, first by reacting quickest to a Luis Suarez shot that struck the crossbar to put the home side 2-0 up, and then curling in a brilliant free-kick for the landmark 600th goal of his career.

Scoring three goals against the Spaniards will be difficult enough for the Reds in their Champions League semi-final second leg at Anfield on Tuesday.

That, though, must be done while also keeping out Messi, Suarez and the rest.

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Alexander-Arnold was a surprise absentee in Camp Nou – Joe Gomez coming in at right-back for his first start since December – but is expected to start at Anfield.

And that would most likely put him up against former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho .

But would it be a help to have previously trained with the Brazilian?

Philippe Coutinho and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during a training session at Melwood Training Ground on August 9, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“Yeah I suppose,” says Alexander-Arnold. “He is a really tricky player, he can go both sides but it is important not to give those type of players too much space and too much respect.

“That's when they probably hurt you the most, when you stand off them and they pick passes and are able to take you on.

“It will be important to suffocate their players and get the ball back as high as possible and give them as little service as possible.

“The main thing for us is to attack with everything we have got and keep the ball as high up the pitch as possible and win it as soon as possible.

“It is a team full of world-class players and it will be a battle but I am sure we will be able to match them.”